Australia - the inhabitants

This is Part Two of my talk about our fair land - for the introduction, see here. I will begin with our original inhabitants; our indigenous Aboriginals, who shamefully (on our part) were only given the Federal right to vote after a referendum in 1967. That's right. They've been here for over 40,000 years and that's what you get. Our current government still refuses to publically apologise for the 'Stolen Generation' which was the "act of removal of the children from their parents, because it would leave the Federal Government open to compensation claims"(source) It's an ugly mess, and I hope one day it will be sorted out. If foreigners are asked what they thought an Australian looked like, typically, this sort of individual is described: A bronzed, laconic, bush-savvy larrikin who wears leather and can speak/tame the animals at will (Paul Hogan typified this; Steve Irwin took it up later). But is this accurate? Certainly in the 1980's I don't think people really cared if it did or not because it created tourism. And tourism creates MONEY. Nowadays, I think this stereotype --that's what it is--is fading. Leaving aside the late Steve Irwin (bless him - we miss him), who else is like this? A lot of people in the regional centres, yes. Heck, I'm related to a few of them. Not exactly like Crocodile Dundee, obviously, but rugged, physical types who've lived pretty hard. Our farmers. Our roustabouts. Our shearers. What are we like now? I don't know. But when you consider almost one in four of our citizens were born overseas, we're an eclectic bunch. That's what I like about us, actually. I've forgotten the women, haven't I? Hmm...let's see. Famous Aussie women: Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Naomi Watts (although I read she actually considers herself British. Hmph!). Do we all look like them? No. But I happen to think we're pretty open, friendly and hospitable. And that's even better though, isn't it? It's either that, or, Dame Edna Everage. I've got a scoop for some of you.......she's really a man. That's another thing about some of our gents. The cross-dressing. Our rugged, football blokes do it; our flamboyant gay community do it. Don't ask me why. I think it's a cultural thing, certainly inherited from our mother-country England* (Little Britain, anyone?) *But I'm sure someone will want to debate that idea! How've I covered it all? Anything else you're burning to know?